We are thrilled to invite you to the 2026 NC Tar Heel Academic Partnership Practice (TAPP) Retreat 2026, taking place on March 20, 2026, at the Friday Center. Registration is open from now to March 16, 2026. Join us as we shape the future of nursing — together.
NC TAPP is a partnership between UNC Hospitals, UNC Health Rex and the UNC School of Nursing that bridges academia and practice to address challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment. This year’s retreat will focus on AI & Emerging Technologies in Nursing Education and Clinical Practice, and is designed to move us beyond discussion into decisive action — ensuring that our work in AI and emerging technologies is intentional, collaborative, forward-thinking, and workforce-centered.
Location:
The Friday Center
100 Friday Center Drive
Chapel Hill, NC
Refreshments:
A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Featured Speakers
Brent Lamm
Chief Information Officer, UNC Health
Brent Lamm serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for UNC Health. In this role, he has responsibility for all Information Technology, Digital Health, Data Science, and Clinical Engineering solutions and services for the health system.
Prior to joining UNC in 2009, Brent served for 10+ years in various technical leadership, IT architecture, and software development roles in the Global Services and Software Group divisions of IBM. During this period, he worked extensively with clients in various industries, including financial services, health care, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
Join us as Brent shares executive-level insight into how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming clinical care delivery, workforce strategy, and nursing education. Discover how innovation is reshaping the future—and how nursing leaders must prepare today for what’s ahead.
Saif Khairat
Professor and Beerstecher-Blackwell Distinguished Term Scholar
Dr. Saif Khairat is the Beerstecher-Blackwell Distinguished Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, with joint appointments at the School of Nursing, the Lineberger Cancer Center, and Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. He directs the NIH-funded Center for Virtual Care Value and Excellence (ViVE) and serves as associate director of UNC’s Carolina Health Informatics Program. Dr. Khairat has authored over 130 influential papers across 35+ peer-reviewed journals and conferences and has secured over $10 million in research grants as principal investigator.
An international expert in digital health and AI, he advises the World Health Organization (WHO) on policies to address national digital health and AI in high, middle, and low-income countries. Dr. Khairat earned his PhD in Health Informatics, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Science from the University of Missouri, and an MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Retreat Details and Sessions
Retreat Leaders
The NC TAPP Retreat will be led by the following esteemed leaders:
- Dr. Valerie Howard, Dean, UNC School of Nursing
- Dr. Jacci Jacobs, Chief Nursing Officer, UNC Hospitals
- Dr. Lorie Rhine, Chief Nursing Officer, UNC Health Rex and
- Dr. Nicole Kolacz, Vice President Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer UNC REX Healthcare
- Dr. Lori Byrd, TAPP Coordinator & Clinical Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Strategic Partnership
Opening Ice Breaker
Eric A. Hodges, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN | Associate Professor & Division Chair, Population & Biopsychosocial Health Innovations
Kick off the retreat with an engaging and forward-thinking ice breaker featuring a communication development tool integrated with AI emergence concepts. This interactive session will energize participants while highlighting how communication, innovation, and technology intersect in modern nursing leadership.
Future-Ready Nurses: V-Simulation in Practice and Education
Elizabeth Stone & Shawna Buchanan
Explore how virtual simulation is bridging education and practice, creating scalable, technology-enabled learning models that prepare nurses for complex, real-world care environments.
SON AI Taskforce: Advancing the Future of Nursing:
Saif Khairat, PhD, MPH, FACMI | Professor and Beerstecher-Blackwell Distinguished Term Scholar
Kandyce Brennan, DNP, CNM | Assistant Professor, UNC School of Nursing
Learn how the School of Nursing AI Taskforce is advancing artificial intelligence initiatives that are shaping the future of nursing education, research, and clinical integration.
Center for Nursing Excellence – Work Group Session(s):
Nicole Burnett, MSN, RN, CNRN, SCRN | Interim Director, Center for Nursing Excellence, UNC Hospitals
Purpose:
To identify shared priorities and partnership needs related to AI and emerging technologies in nursing education and clinical practice.
Participants will:
- Reflect on key insights from the morning sessions
- Identify gaps in knowledge, training, workflow, or policy related to AI integration
- Discuss opportunities for academic–practice collaboration
- Prioritize 2–3 focused goals for advancement over the next year
Outcome:
A clear set of actionable partnership priorities to guide NC TAPP initiatives forward — moving us from conversation to commitment.
Strengthening Academic–Practice Partnerships:
NC TAPP continues to demonstrate powerful collaboration between:
- UNC Health
- UNC Rex Healthcare
- UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing
Together, we are aligning strategy, innovation, and workforce development to prepare nurses who are ready for the future.
Executive Leadership Updates
Hear strategic system updates and vision casting from:
- Valerie Howard, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Dean and Professor, UNC School of Nursing
Vice President of Nursing for Academic Affairs, UNC Health - Lorie Rhine, MSN, RN, NE-BC
System Chief Nursing Executive, UNC Health
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing - Nicole Kolacz, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE
Vice President, Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer - Jacci Harden Jacobs, DHA, MBA, RN, RN-BC
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, UNC Hospitals
Inspirational Highlight: The DAISY Award Segment
Be inspired as we recognize the impact of the DAISY Foundation Award program. This powerful segment will highlight how DAISY recognition brings inspiration, encouragement, and meaningful support to the nursing workforce — beautifully underscoring the spirit of excellence, compassion, and academic–practice partnership that defines NC TAPP.
Why Attend?
✔ Engage with executive and clinical nursing leaders
✔ Explore real-world AI applications in practice and education
✔ Strengthen academic–practice collaboration
✔ Contribute to system-level strategic priorities
✔ Leave inspired, aligned, and future-focused
Questions?
Have questions or need help with registration? Please contact Nedra Dixon, Executive Assistant to the office of Strategic Partnerships and Practice, at nedradix@unc.edu or 919-962-8983.